Interesting Facts
- Up to 50% of individuals with eating disorders abuse alcohol or drugs, compared to 9% of the general population (Warren, 2009)
- Up to 35% of alcohol or drug abusers have eating disorders compared to 3% of the general population (Warren, 2009)
- Bulimic women who are alcohol dependent report a higher rate of suicide attempts, anxiety, personality and conduct disorders and other drug dependence than bulimic women who are not alcohol dependent. (Sinha et al., 1996)
- Some research suggests that patients with nonpurging anorexia nervosa may be less likely than patients with other forms of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa purging subtype, to have an alcohol abuse problem. (Grilo et al., 1995a)
- Women with concurrent eating disorders, especially bulimia nervosa, and drinking problems usually develop the eating disorder before the alcohol problem. (Carver & Harrison, 2004)
- The stress and anxiety experienced by frequent dieters in abstinence from palatable food has neurobiological similarities to the negative emotional state of drug and alcohol addicts. (Goldbloom, 1993)
- Eating disorder treatment uses many of the concepts embodied in the 12-step model of alcoholism treatment. (Bulik, Sullivan, Carter, & Joyce, 1997)
- Personality disorders characterized as cluster B (ie. erratic or unstable) were diagnosed more frequently in those with co-occurring eating disorders and substance use problems, whereas cluster C personality disorders (ie. anxious or fearful) were diagnosed more frequently in those with eating disorders minus the substance use problems. (Dansky, Brewerton, & Kilpatrick, 2000)
- Some research suggests food deprivation can increase self-administration of alcohol and other drugs in laboratory animals. (Krahn, 1991)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BV19dsGR-U